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Padres to meet with Gonzalez about future

Padres to meet with Gonzalez about future

SAN DIEGO -- New Padres general manager Jed Hoyer will meet with the agent for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez next week to presumably discuss the future of the 27-year-old with the franchise.

Hoyer said Wednesday, after the end of the General Managers Meetings in Chicago, that "I am looking forward to talking to John [Boggs, the agent for Gonzalez] next week, on a range of topics. Adrian will be chief among them."

Gonzalez, who on Wednesday won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award, still has two years remaining on an undervalued deal that might make him the best value in the game.

Gonzalez, who hit 40 home runs this past season and drove in 99 runs and appeared in his second All-Star Game, will make $4.75 million in 2010 with a $5.5 million club option for 2011.

Fangraphs valued Gonzalez's 2009 production at $28.4 million, which was the 10th best among all position players.

"He's a great player with a great contract who's a fan favorite," Hoyer told SI.com this week in Chicago.

Gonzalez, who is about to embark on a vacation to Europe, said that he's curious as to what comes out of the meeting between Boggs, who is based in San Diego, and Hoyer, and what the organization wants to do with him moving forward.

"If they want to offer an extension, I'd be more than willing to look at it and see what they think of me or what value they've put on me," Gonzalez said. "I'd like to see where they're at, wanting to sign me long-term or trade me or not."

Gonzalez would certainly command a bevy of prospect and/or players who could help San Diego immediately if the team opted to trade him before his contract expires.

But Gonzalez, a San Diego native, has now become the face of the franchise, especially after popular pitcher Jake Peavy was traded in July. He's popular among fans in Mexico, where he spent part of his youth, as well as San Diego.

"If I get to stay here with the Padres and stay in my hometown and live here at home and be with these great fans and great city, then I'm in a winning situation," Gonzalez said. "If I end up getting traded, I'm getting traded to a team that more than likely will be in the playoffs and will be contending for a World Series title."

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.